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This Article examines whether and how, in a federal state, the federated entities’ constitutions, laws, case law, and practices may impact federal fundamental rights cases. Such bottom-up influence may occur in particular when (i) the federated entities have jurisdiction over the relevant area of law and enjoy broad autonomy; (ii) the question raised is controversial, relates to conflicting values, and is linked to the diversity which the constitution protects; (iii) the applicable federal fundamental right is “unenumerated” or not clearly grounded in the constitution; and (iv) the scope of this right is vague. In this respect, federated entities in a federal state may become “constitutional indicators” or even “trailblazers.” They indeed have the potential to indicate a future federal path when, for constitutional reasons, many of them have made similar decisions or choices, or when one or a few pioneering entities wander through unexplored constitutional fields.
